Road Trips in Mie Prefecture

For visitors wanting to go off the beaten path and see some of the hidden sights of Mie Prefecture, renting a car and hitting the open road is the best option by far. You can reasonably rent cars in most cities in Mie, or just drive in from elsewhere, but being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of high volume tourist areas is priceless. Mie Prefecture is full of outstanding views, dense forests, rocky beaches, and towering mountains, making it the ideal place to explore by car.

Index

Ise Shima National Park

Ise Skyline Road

Kongou Shouji Temple

Goza Port to Daio

Ise Shima National Park

Ise Shima National Park

The Ise Shima National Park covers hundreds of square kilometers of the Shima Peninsula. The landscape of this area is noted for its inlets and islets scattered along the coast, as well as its dense forests and mountains. This park’s size makes it a perfect choice for travelers looking to avoid crowded city areas and get out into nature. One way to enjoy the park is by taking a leisurely drive along the Pearl Road, a 23.8 km stretch that hugs the eastern coastline of the peninsula and takes travelers from Toba to Shima. From the Pearl Road, visitors can take various detours to hike up to observatories, look out over the ocean, or even visit Shima Spain Village, a theme park that pays homage to Spanish culture.

Ise Skyline Road

Ise Skyline Road

There is another scenic road that goes through Ise Shima National Park. For 1,250 yen, visitors can drive along the Ise Skyline Road, a 16.3 km road takes drivers up and around Asama Mountain and down to the sea at Toba. It’s a great option for driving from Ise to Toba instead of the normal back routes. At the summit of the mountains, the Ise Shima Skyline Observatory offers travelers a view of Ise Bay and the city below. At the top of the observatory, travelers can enjoy a hot footbath while gazing at the expansive scenery, and on clear days, visitors can even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Kongou Shouji Temple

Kongou Shouji Temple

Down the road from the observatory, visitors can explore the Kongou Shouji Temple. This temple, established in the 6th century, is a Buddhist temple intended to ward off evil spirits. The temple is known for the harmony it creates between traditional architecture and the natural setting of the grounds. Japan has designated this site as a tangible cultural property, so it’s considered a must-see destination.

Goza Port to Daio

Goza Port to Daio

Another route is the road that stretches along the southern peninsula from Goza Port to the Daiosaki Lighthouse. Along this road, there are various beach scenes to be enjoyed, so visitors are encouraged to pull over and enjoy the scenery, or take a dip in one of the natural hot springs in the area. The Daiosaki Lighthouse took more than 50 years to complete and is one of the few lighthouses in Japan open to the public. Visitors can go to the top of the lighthouse for 200 yen, and get a bird’s eye view of the sea from 45 meters up. Near Daiosaki Lighthouse, visitors have the opportunity to see Yonago Beach, a gravel beach with unique rock formations off the coast which are visible at low tide.

Goza Port to Daio

Visitors to Japan should note that to rent a car, they must have a valid international driver’s license and be at least 18 years old. Since international driver’s licenses are not issued in Japan, this must be obtained in advance. The rental process is relatively painless, as most rental companies have online reservation services available in English. Also, cars often come equipped with a GPS navigation system for added convenience, though it’s never a massive disaster to get a little lost in the countryside.

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